10 Things My Students Could Learn From Kanye’s TweetsTrill or Not Trill?

Yesterday, Kanye West shut down the Internet in middle of the afternoon. He and Wiz Khalifia got into over an album name change, a rapper named Max B and the misuse or misunderstanding of the letters KK. It’s deeper than that but, we’ll start there. This Kanye rant was quite epic, hilarious and ugly. With this being Trill or Not Trill we some leadership lessons students(really anyone) could take from this.

Being Petty seems to be the soup du jour. As a leader this is a trait to avoid. Be the bigger person when someone comes at you. Avoid public and petty responses. Such behavior is a sign of instability and overreaction. Don’t get caught out in the cold without a jacket. Your actions will always speak louder.

Avoid distractions and stay focused on achieving greatness. Not calling Wiz one, but Sucka MCs in general will always try and stunt your progress. It won’t matter to them but it could detrimental to your development if it happens too much. The moment you’ve been taken away from the goal, they’ve won.

There is never room for shaming. Whether it be race, gender, orientation or any other space, leaders don’t do that. It’s offensive and not progressive. Kanye does this with Amber Rose all the time and never comes out on top. This sexist approach doesn’t work and diminishes your stance as a leader.

Don’t be afraid to demand the respect you are owed. When doing so, infuse your request with humility and back it up with actions. If you’re in a situation as the experienced leader, people should recognize your particular expertise. It’s always better to show than tell, but I’m not adverse to a reminder if done right. Respect the OGs.

I can’t tell you the amount of emails I get with countless spelling errors. Take your time and reread before clicking send. Trust me, it stands out. That “either” which meant to be “ether” takes any sting out of the tweet to me.

Nothing is ever that serious. Going at someone’s kid is totally unnecessary. Tony Montana once said no kids. If this famed gangster won’t do it, neither should you or Kanye.

This was one of the better tweets. Leaders should not be in the business of taking shots but if you absolutely must, be subtle and don’t be disrespectful. Kanye cleverly mentioned a Wiz song and displayed teamwork by using his wife’s emoji app. Say more with less. He honestly could have tweeted this alone and won but you can’t break the internet like that.

Admit to your mistakes. Kanye’s apology was a bit nonchalant for the emotional heat he just dropped. Nonetheless, it’s important to recognize that you were wrong and are prepared to move forward.

Amber Rose clapping back was loved by the masses and I’m all for defending herself and her child. With that said, speaking of shaming, Amber took a shot at people’s perception of black masculinity. Her description of a sexual act was taken as an attack. This was a diss because it wasn’t “masculine.” Was what she did considered a clap back because she revealed a secret or because it revealed Kanye to be less of a man. The response from the public might be the party to look at here, but with Amber Rose staking claim as the queen of Anti “Slut” shaming, one must question her response. She was far less petty than Kanye but she’s on that train too.

Finally, STAY OFF OF TWITTER WHEN YOU’RE UPSET! When you’ve decided you’ve gone too far it might be too late.

Stay trill, folks.MrJeffDess

MrJeffDess is a writer, professor, public speaker and emcee of Haitian descent. He is an author of 4 books of poetry, including his latest, Deconstructing Ratchet. With over ten years of performing and student affairs experience under his belt MrJeffDess continues to strive towards helping students reach their highest potential. For booking information, contact MrJeffDess at mrjeffdess@gmail.com